Reynolds has been the brand you stare at longingly in the shop while buying something you can actually afford. Carbon layups, aero engineering, pro-team sponsorships. Not exactly the company you’d expect to release a full alloy mountain bike wheel lineup.

But here we are. Four models spanning XC to downhill, built around 6069-T6 aluminum rims, Ringlé hubs with sealed cartridge bearings, and, the real headline, a lifetime warranty on every rim. No crash replacement fees. No fine print about “normal wear.” If the rim fails, they replace it. Period.

That’s a bold move from a brand that’s spent decades telling you carbon is worth the premium.

The Lineup at a Glance

Model	Discipline	Internal Width	Weight (pair)	Spokes	Price
A329	Trail/Enduro	30mm	1,850g	28/32	$599
A309	XC/Trail	30mm	1,680g	28/28	$499
A275	XC Race	25mm	1,520g	24/28	$449
A329 DH	Downhill	30mm	2,100g	32/32	$649

All four use J-bend spokes (Sapim Leader, double-butted), 6-bolt rotor mounts, and Boost spacing. The A329 and A329 DH come with Cushcore-compatible rim profiles. Freehub options include Shimano Micro Spline, SRAM XD, and HG for the holdouts still running 11-speed.

Why This Matters

Reynolds isn’t the first carbon brand to make alloy wheels. But they’re one of the first to apply carbon-level engineering rigor to aluminum and then back it with a warranty that makes carbon look fragile by comparison.

The 6069-T6 alloy they’re using is significant. Most budget alloy rims use 6061, which is easier to machine but softer. 6069 is harder, more fatigue-resistant, and holds its shape better after impacts. It’s the same alloy DT Swiss uses in their higher-end alloy rims, and there’s a reason: it survives rock strikes that would dent 6061 rims into retirement.

Reynolds says their rim profiles were designed using the same finite element analysis tools they use for carbon layup optimization. The wall thicknesses vary around the circumference: thicker at the spoke bed and bead hooks, thinner in the sidewalls where you need compliance. That’s not typical for alloy rims, which are usually extruded with uniform wall thickness to keep manufacturing simple.

A329 Trail/Enduro: The One Most People Should Buy

Weight: 1,850g (verified on our scale; Reynolds claims 1,830g, so close enough) Internal width: 30mm Price: $599

The A329 is the do-everything wheel in the lineup, and after six weeks on a mixed-terrain rotation of Colorado Front Range trails, it’s the one I keep reaching for.

Stiffness is the first thing you notice. The 28-front/32-rear spoke pattern gives the rear wheel a planted, responsive feel that reminded me of wheels costing twice as much. Lateral flex under hard cornering? Minimal. I drove into berms at Trestle expecting the vague, mushy feedback you get from budget alloy hoops. Didn’t happen.

The 30mm internal width puts it right in the sweet spot for modern trail tires. A 2.5” Maxxis Assegai mounted with a nice, square profile with good sidewall support without the tire looking over-stretched or balloon-like. Tubeless setup was straightforward: two wraps of Stan’s tape, valves in, air up with a floor pump on the first try. No compressor needed.

Where It Impressed

Rough descents. Rocky, chunky stuff at speed. The combination of 6069 alloy and that variable wall thickness means the rim absorbs trail chatter differently than a typical alloy wheel. It’s not carbon-smooth (let’s be honest about that) but it’s noticeably less harsh than the Hunt Trail Wide or WTB KOM i30 I’ve been comparing against.

One rock strike on a particularly ugly section of Captain Jack’s left a small cosmetic mark on the rear rim. No dent. No flatspot. On a 6061 rim, that same hit would have left a visible ding. I’ve checked the trueness three times since: still dead straight.

Where It Didn’t

Weight. At 1,850g, these aren’t light wheels. If you’re counting grams on long XC climbs, you’ll feel the rotating mass. That’s physics, not a design flaw. Alloy is heavier than carbon, and Reynolds didn’t try to shave grams at the expense of durability. Honest tradeoff.

The Ringlé hubs are solid but not exceptional. Engagement is 36-point (10 degrees), which is fine for trail riding but noticeable if you’re coming from a faster-engaging hub like an I9 or DT Swiss ratchet system. The freehub body is steel, not alloy, so it won’t get chewed up by SRAM cassettes. Smart choice.

A309 XC/Trail: Light Enough to Race, Tough Enough to Not Worry

Weight: 1,680g Internal width: 30mm Price: $499

Same rim profile as the A329 but with thinner walls and a 28/28 spoke count. Reynolds shaved 170g by accepting slightly less impact resistance, a reasonable trade for XC riders who aren’t routinely smashing through rock gardens.

I haven’t spent as much time on the A309, but initial impressions are positive. It feels snappy. Acceleration is noticeably better than the A329, and at 1,680g, it’s lighter than some carbon wheels in the $800-1,000 range (looking at you, Stans Arch CB7 at 1,640g for $200 more).

For riders building up a budget-friendly trail bike or looking for a meaningful first upgrade, the A309 at $499 is a hard value to beat. Lighter than most alloy competition, backed by a better warranty than any of them.

A275 XC Race: The Surprise Contender

Weight: 1,520g Internal width: 25mm Price: $449

At 25mm internal, the A275 is purpose-built for XC race tires in the 2.0-2.25” range. The narrower profile and 24-front spoke count get the weight down to 1,520g, which is genuinely impressive for alloy.

I’m skeptical of the 24-spoke front in rough XC conditions, places like Leadville or Downieville where “XC” means sustained rocky descents. Reynolds says the 6069 alloy and rim shape compensate for fewer spokes, and they may be right, but I haven’t put enough miles on these to confirm. For smoother XC courses and marathon racing, the weight savings make a compelling argument.

A329 DH: Warranty Makes the Case

Weight: 2,100g Price: $649

The DH version is heavier-gauge everything. 32/32 spoke count, thicker rim walls, reinforced spoke bed. At 2,100g, it’s competitive with other alloy DH wheels (Spank Oozy 395 DH sits around 2,200g).

But the real selling point here is the lifetime warranty on a DH rim. Think about that. Downhill racing destroys wheels. Most riders go through at least one rim per season. At $649 for a set with a lifetime rim guarantee, the math gets very interesting compared to buying replacement rims every year.

The Ringlé Hub Story

Reynolds didn’t just slap their name on a generic hub. They brought back the Ringlé brand, a name that’ll spark nostalgia for anyone who rode in the ’90s. The new Ringlé hubs use:

• Sealed cartridge bearings (not cup-and-cone)
• Tool-free freehub body swap
• 6-bolt rotor mount
• Steel freehub body (no cassette gouging)
• 36-point engagement

They’re not trying to compete with Chris King or Industry Nine on engagement speed or bling factor. These are workhorse hubs designed to run for years without fuss. Bearing replacement is straightforward: pop the old ones out, press the new ones in. No proprietary tools, no dealer-only service.

The Lifetime Warranty: What It Actually Covers

I read the fine print so you don’t have to. Here’s what matters:

• Covered: Manufacturing defects, fatigue cracks, spoke pull-through, and (this is the big one) impact damage that results in a cracked or broken rim.
• Not covered: Cosmetic damage (scratches, scuffs), wear from brake pads (rim brakes, but who’s running those on MTB in 2026?), or damage from using the wrong tire size.
• Process: Submit a claim through Reynolds’ website with photos. They ship a replacement rim (not a complete wheel, so you’ll need to re-lace or have a shop do it). They cover the rim cost; you cover shipping and labor.

Compared to most carbon wheel warranties that cover “defects only” and charge $200-400 for crash replacements, this is significantly more generous. Reynolds says they can offer this warranty because 6069 alloy fails predictably. It doesn’t shatter like carbon, and fatigue failures show visible warning signs before catastrophic failure.

How They Stack Up

Feature	Reynolds A329	DT Swiss EX 1700	Hunt Trail Wide	WTB KOM i30
Weight	1,850g	1,850g	1,820g	1,900g
Internal Width	30mm	30mm	30mm	30mm
Rim Material	6069 Alloy	6069 Alloy	6061 Alloy	6069 Alloy
Hub Engagement	36pt (10°)	36pt (10°)	48pt (7.5°)	36pt (10°)
Price	$599	$700	$520	$480
Rim Warranty	Lifetime	2 years	2 years	Limited lifetime

The DT Swiss EX 1700 is the closest competitor in terms of build quality, but you’re paying $100 more and getting a shorter warranty. Hunt undercuts on price and offers faster hub engagement, but uses 6061 alloy (softer rims that dent easier). WTB is the budget pick with a good warranty, but the hubs are the weak point.

Reynolds slots in as the best overall package: premium alloy, reputable hubs, and a warranty that none of the competition can match.

Who Should Buy These

The A329 ($599) is for trail and enduro riders who want bomb-proof wheels without the carbon price tag. If you ride rocky terrain, if you’ve dented alloy rims before, if you want to stop worrying about wheel damage — these are your wheels. They’re also an excellent upgrade for anyone riding OEM wheels on a mid-range bike. Swapping from the stock 2,100g+ wheels to the A329 at 1,850g is immediately noticeable.

The A309 ($499) is the XC and light trail pick. Competitive weight, great price, same warranty. If you’re building a 32-inch wheel XC rig or upgrading from heavy stock wheels on a hardtail, this is where the value hits hardest.

The A275 ($449) is for XC racers on a budget who still want a quality wheelset. At 1,520g, it’s lighter than most alloy and cheaper than all carbon at this weight.

The A329 DH ($649) is for gravity riders who are tired of buying new rims. The lifetime warranty alone justifies the price if you race or ride park regularly.

Who Should Skip These

Carbon weight weenies. If you need sub-1,500g on a trail wheel, alloy isn’t your material. Period. Go buy carbon wheels and accept the risk.

Riders who prioritize hub engagement. The 36-point Ringlé hubs are adequate, not exciting. If fast engagement matters to your riding style — steep technical climbs, trials-style moves — look at wheels with I9 or DT Swiss 54t ratchet hubs.

Riders on a strict budget. WTB and Stans still make solid alloy wheels under $400. The Reynolds premium buys you better alloy, better warranty, and the Ringlé hubs, but if $400 is your ceiling, those alternatives work.

The Bottom Line

Reynolds applying their carbon engineering expertise to alloy is exactly the kind of trickle-down that benefits regular riders. The A329 is the standout — stiff, durable, well-priced, and backed by a warranty that makes carbon crash-replacement programs look like a scam.

The alloy wheel market just got a lot more interesting. A brand known for $2,000+ carbon hoops is now making a serious case that their $599 alloy set might be all the wheel most riders need. And they’re willing to guarantee it for life.

That’s not marketing. That’s confidence.

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Tested on a 2025 Trek Fuel EX, Front Range Colorado trails (Captain Jack’s, Trestle Bike Park, Buffalo Creek), 6 weeks. Weights verified on our Park Tool DS-1 scale.